VPD called to home 100 times since 1996Boy, 4, shot, injured in weekend drive-by
Published 11:30 am Monday, January 9, 2012
Since 1996, Vicksburg police have been called at least 100 times to the home where a 4-year-old boy was shot late Friday in a hail of bullets in a drive-by shooting.
“It’s been a very active residence,” Chief Walter Armstrong said this morning, a day after the 4-year-old, Arkeevian Warfield, was released from University Medical Center in Jackson, where he underwent surgery to remove bullets from his groin, knee and ankle.
“He’s doing OK,” said Mary Ann Buck, the 56-year-old grandmother of Arkeevian and the owner of the home at 20 Water Well Road. “He’s back home where he belongs. It’s where he lives.”
The child was hit just before midnight, when 18 of the 20 people who live in the doublewide trailer were at home. Armstrong said this morning that Arkeevian was the only person injured.
The rest “hit the floor,” Arkeevian’s aunt said Saturday.
The bullets were fired from at least three weapons, police said, hitting little Arkeevian four times as he ran toward his grandmother, who was in a back bedroom.
Police said they don’t know how many vehicles were involved in the shooting, though a description of one led to inquiries, but no arrest. Armstrong has not released a description of the vehicle.
On Saturday afternoon, 22 bullet holes could be seen in the trailer.
“The neighborhood itself isn’t active, it’s the residence,” Armstrong said.
He said the calls have been for a variety of reports, but drug and domestic issues stand out the most.
“We don’t know if drugs had anything to do with it,” Armstrong said. “But obviously anytime drugs are involved, it can lead to bad things happening.”
Buck said she has lived at 20 Water Well Road for 20 years.